CHICO — Enloe Medical Center has been honored by the American Stroke Association for its care of stroke victims.

The association”s “Get With the Guidelines” Silver Performance Award recognizes Enloe”s commitment to ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.

“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost. The award addresses the important element of time,” neurologist Dr. Michael O”Brien was quoted as saying in a news release. He directs Enloe”s stroke program.

Enloe has developed a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to its emergency department. This includes always being equipped to provide brain-imaging scans and using clot-busting medications when appropriate.

“The time is right for Enloe to be focused on improving the quality of stroke care,” O”Brien stated. “The number of acute ischemic stroke patients eligible for treatment is expected to grow over the next decade due to increasing stroke incidence and a large aging population.”

According to the American Stroke Association, each year approximately 780,000 people suffer a stroke — 600,000 are first attacks and 180,000 are recurrent.

Of stroke survivors age 49 and older, 21 percent of men and 24 percent of women die within a year. For those 70 and older, the percentages are even higher.